Court serves Facebook users in N100m suit by former Abia HoS

Court serves Facebook users in N100m suit by former Abia HoS

 

By Steve Oko

Abia State High Court has served writ of summons on two popular Facebook users, Nwokeukwu Mascot Nnamdi, and Bethel Agbara, in the N100 million libel suit instituted against them by the immediate-past Acting Head of Service, Abia State, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Lady Joy Maduka.

Copies of the summons dated June 21 and signed by the Registrar, were conspicuously pasted by the bailiff on the Defendants’ door posts and building walls at Aba Road Umuahia by Old Mobil Filling Station.

It read in part: ” Writ of summons to Nwokeukwu Mascot Nnamdi, and Bethel Agbara, of Umuobiakwa Obingwa, Abia State; and Ndiolumbe, Isiala Ngwa South L.G.A , Abia State.

” You are hereby commanded that within fourty two (42) days after this writ on you, inclusive of the day of such service, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you in action at the suit of the claimant. Take notice that in default of your so doing, the claimant may proceed there in, and judgment may be given in your absence”.

The former HoS dragged the Defendants to court for writing on their Facebook walls that she was sacked for allegedly embezzling N20 million, and diverting N13 million respectively, a publication she said was false.

In the suit marked HU/23/2024, filed before Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia, on June 21, 2024, the former HoS claimed that “the malicious and libelous publication” by the Defendants, had exposed her to “public scandal, odium and ridicule “.

The retired Perm Sec through her Counsel, Nwabueze Chukwueke of NCN & Partners Law firm, further claimed that the alleged “libelous publication, has lowered and diminished the estimation of the Claimant in the eyes of right thinking members of the society, including but not limited to her friends, business associates and family members”.

She, therefore, sought N100 million cost against the Defendants, and an order of the court compelling the Defendants to tender unreserved apology to the Claimant in two national newspapers.

A copy of the suit sighted by Vanguard in Umuahia read in part:” The 1st Defendant in his Facebook wall falsely published and accused the Claimant of diversion and embezzlement of N20 million and N13 million, respectively”.

According to the suit, “the 1st Defendant maliciously defamed the Claimant when he carelessly and recklessly published that one of the primary allegations against the retired Perm Sec involves the diversion of N20 million intended for workers; and looting N13 million from the Ministry of Environment account shortly after her promotion to Perm Sec.”

Recall that the Head of Service, Mrs Queen Obioma, had in a circular dated June 14, 2024, directed the former Perm Sec, to proceed on “compulsory retirement with immediate effect”.

No reason was however, given for the directive but the incumbent HoS said the action was sequel to a directive by the Governor.

The former Perm Sec was further directed to hand over all Government properties in her custody to the most senior Director in the Ministry.

 

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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